Gatlinburg Trolley Routes and Free Rides

There are basically three ways to navigate Gatlinburg, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Driving is convenient, but sometimes, parking spaces can be scarce and costly. Walking is cheap, but on a hot summer day, hoofing it the entire length of the Parkway (especially north to south) can be daunting.

Consider taking a trolley to move around the ‘Burg. There are several trolley routes that will take you just about anywhere you want to go and for as little as $2 per person for an entire day with an all-day pass. That gets you access to the red, blue, purple, yellow and green routes, which cover everything from the Arts & Crafts Community to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Overall, some 20 trolleys service approximately 50 miles of trolley routes and serve more than 800,000 guests each year.

Each summer, the city of Gatlinburg offers a special free trolley program. Three designated trolleys make numerous stops along the Parkway at no charge, between traffic lights #1 and #10. These open-air shuttles run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and the trolleys are handicapped accessible.

The main Gatlinburg trolley depot is located at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.